Los Angeles Sparks rookie Cameron Brink suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee during a game against the Connecticut Sun on June 19, 2024. The injury occurred while Brink was driving to the basket in the first quarter of the game.
Brink, who was selected as a member of Team USA's 3x3 basketball team for the Paris Olympics, underwent further evaluation after suffering the injury and is expected to miss both the remainder of her rookie WNBA season and her participation in the Olympics.
The Sparks announced Brink's injury on their social media channels but did not provide any additional details about her recovery timeline or plans for replacing her on the team.
Brink, who was drafted second overall by the Sparks out of Stanford University, had been starting every game for the team and averaging 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 2.3 blocks and 1.1 steals per game.
The injury is a significant blow for both the Sparks and Team USA as Brink was one of the brightest young stars in the WNBA this season.
Brink's teammates, coaches, and fans have expressed their support for her on social media. The Sparks head coach Curt Miller has experienced losing a starter to injury every year he's been a head coach in the WNBA and encouraged his team to rally around Brink during this difficult time.
The Sparks will now need to find a replacement player for Brink, with potential options including Queen Egbo or Virag Kiss. Li Yueru and Azura Stevens are also expected to return from injury soon and could potentially fill some of the void left by Brink's absence.